TRIBALISM

Government wants administrators of the seven public universities and their constituent colleges to tackle rampant claims of tribalism in their senior cadres.

The Higher Education ministry also called for an audit into how top officers in these institutions were recruited to establish if the law was followed. The order follows an outcry on alleged flourishing of tribalism in appointment of principals and senior management staff at constituent colleges of our local universities.

Curiously, the main complainants are the Chancellors themselves, which could point at how serious the problem is and hint to the fact that powerful external forces, could be at play.

Chancellors managing the universities have said it is shameful that the vice, which can be blamed for almost all problems in the management of the public sector, has found its way into institutions of higher learning.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Prof Crispus Kiamba said the ministry received the concerns raised by the Chancellors through Dr Joseph B. Wanjui, who chairs the Chancellors Committee, in March.

"We have invited Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Chairmen of Councils of Public Universities and constituent colleges to a meeting for us to study how it happened and then address the issue," said Kiamba.

He revealed a meeting would be convened as soon as the new minister for Higher Education Mr William Ruto settles down in office.

The widely held view is that universities are expected to offer examples of merited leadership that is beyond reproach and tribal bigotry but unfortunately that seems not to be the case. Worse still, appointments appear to bear political meddling and meant to placate communities around which the national institutions are based.

Restore credibility

The Chancellors asked the Government to address the issue with speed and restore credibility of the institutions of higher learning.

"This trend should be avoided as it does not promote a cohesive society and further to that, these new institutions need a national and international outlook that is essential in propelling them to world-class universities," said Wanjui who is the University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor.

He said the appointments flouted the Universities’ Act and lamented the "apparent tribalisation of top appointments in the new university colleges."

Wanjui lamented at the manner in which top appointments in academia were made, saying they smack of tribalism and nepotism and could erode faith in the public universities.

The audit report was shelved at the Eleventh Hour when Dr Sally Kosgei swapped Cabinet portfolios with Mr William Ruto who was in Agriculture.

In a letter to Kosgei seen by The Standard, Wanjui and his team asked for an appointment to see her and the PS, "so that we can consult on these matters."

The news broke days after Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura directed State corporations to balance their ethnic profiles so as to reflect the face of Kenya.

Early this year, Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunity heard that Maseno and Chuka Universities were among the most affected by ethnic imbalance. The report came from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) after its maiden meeting with the committee. NCIC Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia accused the campuses of flouting the law.

According to the law, no entity should have more than one-third of its employees from one ethnic group.

"We have received many complaints from the public… the public bodies made mistakes and we now need to correct them," said Dr Kibunjia.

Wanjui’s letter dated March 10th, was copied to Prime minister Raila Odinga, Muthaura, Prof Kiamba, all chancellors of public universities and their deputies. The chancellors argue the new colleges needed a national and international outlook that is essential for propelling them into world-class universities.

In an interview with The Standard, Kiamba acknowledged receipt of the letter and said the matter deserved urgent attention adding that tribalism within universities would not be accepted.

Kiamba said there was need for institutions of higher learning to have an international look in principle and management and that the top administrators be recruited in a competitive and transparent manner.

He said the national outlook should be jealously guarded in universities because of the nature of their functions.

"If it is true that the management does not reflect the face of Kenya, then we will have to strategise on how we will review and confront the situation," promised Kiamba.

He said Ruto assisted by the technical officers of the ministry would make a decision after analysing the report.

"We want a student from the Coast Province who is admitted at Maseno University finds a true refection of a Kenyan face in terms of leadership and academic performance," said Kiamba.

Post-poll chaos

But the PS was quick to point out that some professionals shy away from applying for positions in other regions of the country. Post-election violence worsened the situation in 2008.

Kiamba said positions of top administrators and principals of constituent colleges are usually advertised. It is only those of chairmen of councils that are not advertised.

"For instance, if you look at those who applied for the position of principal at Bondo University College, you see that they come from one region. Same applies to other constituent colleges across the country," said Kiamba.

He explained the audit would first look at whether those who applied were taken through the correct process and if those selected were appointed in accordance with the law.

However, he said Chancellors and chairmen of councils are appointed by the President but after recommendations from the university. In the same case, the minister does not appoint senior management of the public universities.

According to Kiamba, the minister appoints principals of colleges after recommendation from the councils and chancellors.

Currently, there are seven public universities established by various Acts of Parliament and largely supported from public funds.

These are University of Nairobi (1970), Moi University Established (1985), Kenyatta University (1985), Egerton University (1987), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (1994), Maseno University (2000) and Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology (2007).

There are 13 constituent colleges under the seven public universities.

Last December, the parliamentary committee summoned Muthaura, and asked him to correct the ethnic imbalance in government recruitment. Muthaura promised to act on the issue, but the committee is yet to get an update on the matter.

However, the Civil Service boss assured the committee then, that the Public Service Commission was already implementing the one-third rule.